Japan beats Mexico 3-2 at LLWS

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania (AP) — Takuma Gomi led off the top of the sixth inning with a tiebreaking home run, and Tokyo, Japan, beat Tijuana, Mexico, 3-2 on Saturday to win the international title at the Little League World Series.

Japan will play Chula Vista, California, after it beat Westport, Connecticut, 12-1 in the U.S. title game played later Saturday.

Japan and Mexico had faced off 14 times in World Series history, and Japan improved to 10-5 against its rival when Gomi homered over the wall in right-center field.

Traditional power Japan is in contention again to make that victory lap around Lamade Stadium. A year ago an all-star team from Tokyo won Japan's eighth Little League title and second in three seasons. Japan has appeared in the World Series finals five of the previous seven years.